By Rob Murphy at the Sportsground

Connacht failed to score in the second half and watched the Blues kicker Ben Blair notch three penalties to bring his side within five points before his captain broke the gain line 34 metres out before finding a clean gap in the defence and strolling home for a try which was converted by the kiwi full back who also added a penalty with the last kick of the contest.

Michael Bradley's side were seemingly on course for a vital victory at the half way mark thanks to Ray Ofisa's try on 22 minutes and three penalties from Ian Keatley. The sin binning of Rhys Thomas on the stroke of half time only added to the Welsh woes.

Yet in similar fashion to their home defeat to the Scarlets in January, Connacht failed to push on and close out the contest. Blair kicked penalties on 46 and 50 minutes to bring the visitors back into the contest and after Connacht had missed opportunities to restore some momentum Blair's third penalty on 66 minute left an ominous feeling about the scoreboard at 14-9.

In a frantic finale Connacht found themselves deep in Blues territory but a crucial turnover under the Cardiff posts relieved the pressure and paved the way for Sowden-Tylor's try which came like a jolt from the blue just when the Connacht defence appeared to be handling everything that had been thrown at them.

That same defence was thoroughly tested in the opening exchanges as Cardiff opened at a rapid pace and used their imposing pack to make in roads. The home side stood firm though and a Gavin Duffy half break followed by a charging break from Robbie Morris switched momentum and paved the way for Ian Keatley to open the scoring with a penalty in front of the posts on 13 minutes.

Connacht had the momentum and confidence and from a lineout five metres out the home side attacked wide, Ian Keatley beat his man only to be stopped short. However a quick-tap penalty paved the way for Connacht to exploit the wayward Blues defence and Andrew Browne's superb final pass released Ray Ofisa for the unconverted try.

Keatley made amends for a rare missed kick with two further penalties before the break as the dominant home side moved further clear on the scoreboard. Once again though the men in green failed to defend the high ground leaving them now hopelessly adrift at the foot of the Magners League table.

Connacht: T Nathan; L Bibo, G Duffy, K Matthews, F Carr; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Morris; A Browne, A Farley; D Gannon, R Ofisa, J Muldoon (capt).

Replacements: R Loughney for Morris 66 mins; M Swift for Gannon 61 mins, J O'Connor for 72 mins; M Deane for Nathan 66 mins.

Blues: B Blair; R Mustoe, J Robinson, C Sweeney, T James; N Robinson, J Spice; R Gill, R Thomas, G Powell, D Jones, S Morgan, M Molitika, R Sowden-Taylor, X Rush (capt).

Replacements: T Filise for Gill 51 mins, G Williams for Sowden-Taylor 42 mins; Sowden-Taylor for Williams 47 mins; R Rees for Spice 75 mins; D Flannigan for Mustoe 78 mins, C Czekaj for Jamie Robinson 36 mins.

Referee Graham Knox

Attendance: 1373

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